Cleaning
Tips for Preventing Mold Growth in Your Office
By
Jan 23, 2007, 23:44

(NewsUSA) - There's a certain bandit in town who visits offices but only steals the walls: mold.

Every office that has ceiling leaks or other wet areas is susceptible to mold growth. The resulting damage from mold can be severe, especially if the walls are made of wood or paper materials.

The food sources for mold in offices are plentiful: furniture, wallpaper, organic fibers, carpet backings and dust. If these organic food sources are exposed to high levels of moisture and light, mold can grow.

If the walls are made of concrete masonry materials, they may be less susceptible to mold growth. Even when mold does affect masonry materials, cleaning them is fast and easy.

But if your office's walls are made from common drywall or other consumable materials, mold could become a serious problem. In this case, the National Concrete Masonry Association suggests some precautionary steps that can help keep mold off your company's roster:

* Look for visible signs of mold or moisture. The first step to preventing or eliminating mold from your office is finding the places where it can live. Look for brown or yellow stains that often result from leaky pipes.

* Regularly maintain roofs and walls. Replace caulking and repaint as needed to reduce the possibility of moisture migration.

* Be aware of humidity levels. Keep the maximum humidity level in your office at 40 percent during summer and spring, and below 60 percent during the fall and winter. You can measure humidity levels with a hygrometer, a device that's stocked in most major hardware stores.

* Keep your office sealed. To help control humidity levels, seal outlets, sill plates and all other through-wall penetrations to minimize uncontrolled air infiltration.

* Know how to clean your office's construction materials. Although mold-infested drywall materials may require replacement, if your office develops mold growth on concrete masonry materials such as brick or cement, it can be cleaned with simple tools. For more information about cleaning concrete masonry, visit www.ncma.org/online/mold.html.

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